Schumacher came close to replacing Massa after serious injury in 2009

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemol has today revealed Michael Schumacher nearly made his return to Ferrari in 2009 to replace injured driver Felipe Massa. Massa was left hospitalised after a flying piece of debris hit him. 

Schumacher returned the season after Massa’s injury to drive for Mercedes under Ross Brawn. The German’s last race for Ferrari was in 2006. 

“I was very sad when Felipe had this terrible accident in Budapest, so I asked Michael to come to my office,” Di Montezemol said at the opening of the Schumacher exhibition in Cologne.

“I said to him, ‘Listen, Michael, you have to do that for me and for Ferrari – you have to come back’.

“For half an hour he could not be persuaded. After an hour he said: ‘Okay, I can not refuse this’.”

Once accepting the invitation to race, Michael failed medical tests following a motorcycle accident the year before. 

“He went to Mugello and did a very good test with the old car. Unfortunately, his doctor had to stop him from returning. He said [Michael] was not ready, which was bad for all of us.”

Eventually, Massa was replaced by Luca Badoer and then Giancarlo Fisichella. Felipe missed the remainder of the season.